The National tribune., 1887-06-02
TIE PENSION OFFICE.
The Unjust Criticisms Made Upon
Gen. Black.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE have during
the past two years noticed many articles from
the Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune, relative to the present COmmi5-
sioner of Pensions, that have been nothing
short of personal insults, written in spirit and
language far below the general dignity and
fairness hitherto Characteristic of that paper.
On the evening of the 21st inst. happened
to be in Washington, and upon opening my
paper almost the first thing to catch my eye
was the following head lines: "Gen. Blacks
Methods-Serviee and Reward Of the Big
Four" etc, etc. was struck with the extreme
personality of the article, and its vulgarity
was offensive. 1t cost me but few moments
| thought to decide my plan of action, and the
next morning found me on my way in search
of truth.
The gentlemen designated as the "Big
Four" were not wholly unknown to me by
reputation, and the following is the result of
my inquiries. i state facts so easy of corrOb-
grafton that the only wonder is that they could
ever have been so far perverted.
The first statement made by the Tfibane's
correspondent is that Gen. Black dismissed
| upon suspicion of having gOssipped about office
matters clerk named Alexander Wilson. As
a matter of fact this name has never been borne
upon the rolls ofemploye of the Pension Bureau.
There is an Alexander Nee. Wilson, who is
| appointed from Pennsylvania, and was q vol
unIeer SOluler nc IS at LnlS ulLe an
| in the Western Division of said Bureau. Fur
| ther comment in this direction is unnecessary.
| 1t was doubtless an oversight that in describ-
| ing the Big Four" three of whom hold re-
| sponsible positions, the military service rem
| dered by two of the number was not men
toned. Capt VIM. Smith and Mr.. Sam1 Il.
| Hersey were both in the service Of the Union
during the War of the Rebellion, and this fact
| was apparently not lost sight of by the Com
missioner of Pensions for while three (who
are ciyilians) of the five gentlemen criticized
were promoted TO 81 600 and 81 800 respect
! lively, Capt Smith and Mr.. Hersey were pro-
NOTED to $4,000. Capt. Smith was appointed
in 1870 He is competent and efficient Ex-
aminer, and by faithful service has surely earn
! ed his promotion.
Mr.. Hersey, who in addition TO his military
service endured the hardships of Southern pris-
ons for II months, was appointed a clerk in
| the Pension Bureau in 1882 and was soon ac-
knOwledgeda man ofexcellent texeeutiveability.
Mr.. Harbaugh is too young to have been able to
render any military service in lS6ll65. He
has been employed in the Interior Department
since 1850, and the records will show that
his clerical ability has always been aeknowl-
edged superior, and the amount Of work ac-
eOmplished in the section now under his super
| vision is positive proof that his strict epplica-
tion bears excellent fruit.
l also made inquiry as to the dismissal of
Rev. Mr.. Turner, eolored man, alleged 10
have been discharged for having expressed
himself friend of Mr.. Trotter, the Recorder
of Deeds. There is no truth in the allegation.
Mr.. Turner has been in falling health for a
long time and was finally incapacitated for
the performance of the duties assigned TO him,
and was, therefore, dropped from the rolls.
And now we have reached the final flourish
of the Tribune article. The subject is Mr.. John
B. Peyton, and happy the man who, in his own
| for
truth, fair dealing frank honesty and gener-
Gus principles possessed by Mr. Peyton. He
was born i'm the District of Columbia, and, like
Mr.. Harbaugh, is too young to have rendered
military service during the late war. He was
appointed some years ago in one of the Depart
mcnts of Government service at a salary OIL
81, 200; he was rapidly promoted, and through
civil-service examinations advanced to a clerk
ship of 81, 800 In 1881 he again sought EN-
ployment in Government service, and received
an appointment in the Pension Bureau at a sal
T ary of $1,000. Mr.. Peyton has a local reputa
, tiOn as a very superior accountant, and IN tht
, Pension Office was soon placed at the head o
. that section in the Special Examination Diyis
ion, devoted to the auditing of daily report
and monthly expense accounts Of Special TX
, aminers-a desk disbursing over 100000 pc
annum.
This was during the Republican administra
r tiOn, and Mr.. T.. q. RathbOne, who was deemed
, so indispensable to Col. w. w. Dudley durin'
, the campaign of 1851, was then Chief Of sal,
t division, and approaching Mr.. Peyton's ac
: ! knowledged ability, and desiring his promotion
he, to quote his own words, wrote tn,
strongest letter that he ever wrote in his lif
| asking tor such promotion" Mr. Peytou wa
recommended for advancement FIVE times from
a July, 1883, to September, 1881, and these fact
were made public during the proceedings Q
the Warner Investigating Committee in th
4 | -FT E.r-
: 1858 43th Congress, second session. The fac
I that Gen. Black has promoted Mr.. Peyton an
: appointed him Assistant Chief of the Specia
= Examination Division, and that Mr. PeytO
i still retains control ofthe desk before described
is but proof that Gen. Black is willing 10 ac
: cept a recommendation or good suggestion
even though it may have been set before hir
by a Republican.
= Truth cannot be ignored, and | have state
: the facts of all the allegations made b
E the Tribune correspondent on the 2lsE ins
= As for Gen. Black he needs no defense. III
9 dares to do right, and the people who criticiz
him adversely have, doubtless, as in the case jus
, cited, been the recipients Of a little whOlC
some discipline at his hands Perhaps they hav
: had an lax to grind and the wheel was nc
: turned 70 their qualification. However it ma
II be, honest. fIir-minded men do not lose ight
: the fact that there is no office under the Coy
: ernment so wearing in its details or so ditficu
= to dispense to the general satisfaction of a
= concerned, as that of the Pension Office. / i
: : not claim perfection for any man, but in m
. itinerant life have every opportunity for ties
: ing the pulse of the veterans-North, SOutl
9 East and West-and l. a Republican, am oblige
= toacknOwledge that Gen. Black by his stragh
: forward honest course is winning the hearts
> those who once doubted, feared and criticize,
. and if occasion ever offers they will turn OF
many more than "One hundred thousan